GTA Online's Heists have stood the test of time, changing the game and the way multiplayer works in open-world titles.
A decade later, the original Heists are still one of the best updates the game ever had. They changed the game for Rockstar and players who had been waiting for a wild cooperative crime experience.
Even before GTA Online debuted, Rockstar had paved the way for Heists through GTA 5's single-player campaign. The missions with Michael, Trevor, and Franklin pulling off crazy heists were definitely some of the best parts of the game. These missions gave us a sneak peek at what heist gameplay could be like online.
However, when GTA Online debuted in October 2013, Heists were nowhere to be found. Instead, players had to wait over a year and a half before Rockstar finally delivered what was promised. On March 10, 2015, Rockstar released the Heists update for GTA Online, revolutionizing the way players engaged with the game.
The update introduced five multi-stage heists: The Fleeca Job, The Prison Break, The Humane Labs Raid, Series A Funding, and The Pacific Standard Job. Each heist came with its own prep work, where players were assigned tasks like hacking, driving, or covering with firepower.
The introduction of Heists also brought a new level of replayability to GTA Online. Before Heists, GTA Online didn't have many structured cooperative options. Most tasks were pretty clear-cut: travel to a location, deal with enemies, collect the item, and then return. On top of that, Heists made the storytelling in GTA Online way more exciting. Each heist had its own cast of characters, cutscenes, and storyline.
Heists are also undoubtedly one of the biggest driving factors behind GTA Online's billion-dollar revenue stream. The formula was so successful that Rockstar continued to build upon it with each major update, leading to even more ambitious heists and expansions. This includes Doomsday Heist (2017), Diamond Casino Heist (2019), and Cayo Perico Heist (2020).
As new updates came in, they built on the original five heists, introducing fresh mechanics, stealth elements, and even solo options. However, longtime players (count me in) would argue that no experience matches the rush of running through The Pacific Standard Job with a full crew, executing the perfect getaway, and sharing the spoils of a well-planned heist.
Newer heists may have raised the stakes, but the original five are still a cornerstone of GTA Online. These moments take us back to a time when GTA Online was still growing. Until now, it has served as a solid entry for beginners, blending accessible gameplay with rewarding outcomes and high-risk thrills.
And even with GTA 6 coming soon, GTA Online remains a cash cow, all thanks to the Heists that started it all.
But for now, they remain a testament to how Rockstar keeps things interesting and keeps players in Los Santos.